Taking Care of Your Mouth

Taking Care of Your Teeth

Braces may serve as a life-changing experience for many. Most patients would agree that wearing braces have helped improve their oral hygiene and straighter teeth have eliminated conditions like gum disease or tooth decay.

It’s important that patients actively pay attention to their braces hygiene for a positive treatment experience.

Here are 3 important tips patients with braces should consider:

1. Follow a Daily Care Routine

No matter how old you are, whether you are wearing teen braces or adult braces, following a daily care routine should be a priority. And here are some tips you should implement for good oral hygiene.

  • Regular brushing

Cleaning teeth with braces take a little more effort. Angle your brush at 45 degrees to ensure you properly remove built-up plaque around the brackets and wires. Bacteria and plaque easily stick to your braces overnight and after meals. To keep your teeth clean after eating, carry your toothbrush and a recommended toothpaste to your workplace so that you remove food particles that accumulate on your teeth.

  • Floss at least Once a Day

Flossing is especially important when you have braces. It keeps your teeth and gums clean. Braces easily hold foods that contain sugar and liquid. And flossing can really help to clean areas in between your teeth where these food particles are trapped. Flossing once or twice a day will instantly give you cleaner teeth.

  • Finish with a Salt Water Gargle

When you first get your braces, your orthodontist will recommend a salt water gargle until the soreness reduces. It significantly reduces inflamed gums, combats pain, and soreness.

  • Replace Toothbrush on a Regular Basis

Replacing your toothbrush on a regular basis is even more important when you have braces on. Since some pressure is applied against your braces to remove food particles, your toothbrush bristles easily lose their position. And the bristles are also more prone to the accumulation of bacteria and fungus. Purchase a pack of three or five toothbrushes. This allows you to easily replace your toothbrush without heading out.

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2. Eating Right with Braces

Eating right with braces is an important and necessary practice. And you need to be especially careful about the foods to eat with braces since the additional chewing and biting can easily damage the wires and brackets. Here are some tips you should consider while planning your meals.

  • Avoid High-Acid Food

High-acid foods are definitely what your taste buds enjoy, but they’re not ideal for your braces. They can easily damage your teeth’s enamel, resulting in discoloration and create a gap in teeth. These gaps easily trap food that will be difficult to remove with a toothbrush and floss.

  • Eat Soft Foods

Soft foods are highly recommended when you have braces on. And sticking to a diet that requires less chewing and biting will eliminate the additional pressure of consuming hard foods like nuts, pizzas, and corn.  A good idea to get you started is to create a diet plan for yourself. This way, you will stick to soft foods that can be chewed and digested easily.

3. Cut Out Bad Habits

Cutting out bad habits is vital with or without braces. And this is especially important with habits like chewing and smoking. Here are reasons why you should cut these habits out of your diet:

  • Chewing

Chewing gum may be beneficial in eliminating acids and bacteria that stick to your teeth. But it’s not recommended when you have braces on. Imagine the gum sticking to the brackets and wires. It is not only unsightly, but it will be difficult for you to remove. And in case you try to pull it out, you may break a wire or two. And fixing your braces will require professional help.

  • Smoking

In addition to your overall health, smoking also massively impacts your dental health. And it can lead to a number of conditions:

  • Stained teeth
  • Gum Disease
  • Loss of bone within the jaw
  • Teeth Extractions
  • Bad breath
  • Higher chances of oral cancer
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So if you want to keep your braces intact, be sure you keep these tips in mind to avoid damaging your teeth, braces, as well as your overall health. Braces may seem like a huge commitment, but once you get into the habit of being more responsible, you’ll realize how easy these tips are to implement.

Additionally, it is important for you to visit your orthodontist for follow-up appointments. If your wires break, you run out of rubber bands, or you have some questions to ask, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist to ensure your experience with braces is smooth-sailing.

Author Bio:

3 Tips to Ace Oral Hygiene with BracesEmily Taylor found the perfect fit for herself as the Online Marketing Manager at Thurman Orthodontics in Fresno CA as she believes that a great smile does more than just make a person look great – it makes them feel great as well. The power of a smile has always been a mystery to Emily and she loves researching and writing about it. She loves to write about everything to do with a healthy bite and a beautiful smile - whether is it ways to achieve it or the importance of it in the various aspects of life. What brings a big smile on Emily’s face is her family and surfing. She also likes to bake and her children and co-workers call her the cookie fairy!